Astrophotography with a Smart Telescope: Software & post-processing workflow

Astrophotography with a Smart Telescope: Software & post-processing workflow

05 Feb. 2025

Astrophotography image processing often requires using multiple software programs or additional plug-ins for specialized features. There are various solutions at different price points—some more popular but with a steeper learning curve.

The best software for you is likely the one you can master effectively. You may achieve better results with a simpler, more intuitive tool than with a powerful, feature-rich solution that is difficult to navigate.

To help you begin your image processing journey, here are three software suite recommendations at different price levels, offering options for every budget.

Best Software Suites for Astrophotography

Budget (~$75) Mid-Range (~$200) Advanced (~$550)
SIRIL
GraXpert
Starnet
Affinity Photo
SIRIL
Affinity Photo
NoiseXterminator
StarXterminator
PixInsight
BlurXterminator
NoiseXterminator
StarXterminator


Software Descriptions (Alphabetical Order)


Affinity Photo

Affinity Photo is a general-purpose image editing software available for Windows and macOS. While not specifically designed for astrophotography, it includes some dedicated features such as basic image stacking and background gradient removal. It can natively read FITS images and supports third-party plug-ins like NoiseXterminator and StarXterminator. Additionally, a free astrophotography script collection, created by one of the developers, is available.

Price: $75
Official Website
James Ritson’s Astrophotography Macros


BlurXTerminator

BlurXTerminator is an AI-powered deconvolution tool designed specifically for astrophotography. It is available exclusively as a plug-in for PixInsight.

Price: $100
Editor: RC Astro
Official Website


GraXpert

GraXpert is a standalone application for astronomical image processing, available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is primarily designed for background gradient suppression but also includes AI-powered noise reduction. Easy to use, it must be combined with other software for a complete astrophotography workflow.

Price: Free
Official Website


NoiseXTerminator

NoiseXTerminator is an AI-based noise reduction tool for astrophotography. It is available as a plug-in for PixInsight, Photoshop, and Affinity Photo.

Price: $50
Official Website


PixInsight

PixInsight is one of the most powerful and comprehensive astrophotography processing software available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It supports numerous third-party plug-ins and scripts for advanced image processing. However, it has a steep learning curve and an interface that may feel unintuitive to new users. Fortunately, there is a strong user community and a wealth of tutorials available online.

Price: $300
Official Website


SIRIL

SIRIL is a free, open-source astrophotography image processing software available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It covers most astrophotography processing steps and can be extended with plug-ins (e.g., for star removal) and third-party scripts. It also benefits from an active user community, with many tutorials available online.

Price: Free
Official Website


StarNet

StarNet is a tool designed for star removal in astrophotography images, allowing selective processing of nebulae and galaxies. It is available as a plug-in for PixInsight and SIRIL, as well as a standalone command-line tool for Windows, macOS, and Linux. A graphical user interface is also available for Windows.

Price: Free
Official Website


StarXTerminator

StarXTerminator is an AI-based tool designed to remove stars from astrophotography images for advanced processing. It is available as a plug-in for PixInsight, Affinity Photo, and Photoshop.

Price: $50
Official Website

Other Notable Software for Astrophotography


AstroPixelProcessor

AstroPixelProcessor is an astrophotography software available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is particularly strong in image stacking but also includes a comprehensive suite of post-processing tools.

Price: $60/year subscription or $165 perpetual license
Official Website

Photoshop

Photoshop is a general-purpose image editing software for Windows and macOS. While it lacks specific astrophotography features, it can be enhanced with plug-ins such as StarXTerminator, BlurXTerminator, and Astronomy Tools Actions.

Price: $20/month subscription
Official Website


Seti Astro’s Suite

Seti Astro’s Suite is a relatively new standalone software dedicated to astrophotography image processing. Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, it includes tools for deconvolution, noise reduction, sharpening, and stretching.

Price: Free
Official Website

 

Typical processing workflow


Astrophotography offers many ways to process images, but there are several common steps that are almost always part of the workflow. The following outline provides a starting point that can be customized depending on the software you use, the results you aim to achieve, and your skill level.

 

THE STARTING POINT

Begin with the pre-stacked image delivered by Vespera or Stellina. Ensure you're working with the 16-bit TIFF file, which contains the raw data needed for high-quality processing.

 

BACKGROUND GRADIENT REMOVAL

Images frequently suffer from gradients caused by light pollution or inconsistent atmospheric conditions during acquisition. Removing these gradients is essential to achieving a uniform background and overall better results.

Software : GraXpert, Pixinsight, SIRIL

 

DECONVOLUTION

Astro images often appear slightly blurred due to atmospheric turbulence, optical limitations, and the diffraction of light. This blurring can cause stars to look bloated and fine details to be lost. Deconvolution is a process that aims to reverse. It sharpens the stars, making them more pinpoint-like, and and improve the overall resolution of the image.

software : BlurXterminator, Pixinsight, SIRIL

COLOR CALIBRATION

The colors in an astrophoto can vary depending on the sensor used, its sensitivity to different wavelengths, and how the data was captured. Color calibration adjusts the image to reflect accurate colors by referencing a catalog of known star colors.

software : SIRIL, Pixinsight

STAR SEPARATION

Processing to enhance nebulae can unintentionally affect stars, leading to unwanted artifacts. Separating stars from the rest of the image allows for selective processing of each layer and is key to producing high-quality astrophotography.

Software : StarXterminator, Starnet

STRETCHING

Stretching is a mandatory and transformative step in astrophotography. It brings out the hidden details and reveals the full potential of your image. If there’s one step to master, it’s this one.

Software : Affinity Photo, Pixinsight, SIRIL

DENOISING

Reducing noise significantly improves image quality by revealing faint details that might otherwise be obscured. This step also enhances the overall aesthetics of your image.

Software : Affinity Photo, NoiseXterminator, Pixinsight, SIRIL

 

SHARPENING

In addition to deconvolution, sharpening further enhances the clarity and detail of the image, making structures and features more defined.

Software : Affinity Photo, Pixinsight, SIRIL

COLOR GRADING

Advanced astrophotography often involves numerous color adjustments. These can highlight specific parts of the object based on its chemical composition, correct color artifacts, or simply enhance the image for aesthetic appeal.

Software : Affinity Photo, Pixinsight, SIRIL

RECOMBINATION AND FINAL STEPS

Once you've processed both the star and deep-sky object (DSO) layers, it's time to merge them. Perform final balancing and adjustments to achieve a polished, stunning astrophotograph.

Software : Affinity Photo, Pixinsight, SIRIL

With the right software and a bit of practice, you’ll be able to transform your raw astrophotography captures into stunning images of the cosmos. Happy processing, and clear skies! ✨🔭